International Haiku Poetry Day

International Haiku Poetry Day is an international holiday dedicated to the Japanese haiku (or hokku) poems. This form of poetry is known for its brevity, conciseness, and lyricism. The holiday is celebrated annually on April 17.

History

The history of Japanese poetry dates back to the 14th century. However, hokku emerged as a distinct genre in the 16th century. More than 250 years later, it became known as haiku, thanks to Masaoka Shiki, who wrote extensively in this style and is considered one of Japan’s most famous poets.

Classical Japanese haiku consists of 17 syllables. There is often no logical connection between the lines, but they are united by rhythm and emotional resonance. Ancient Japanese poets believed that using a minimal number of words avoided unnecessary descriptions that could hinder a clear perception of the imagery the poet intended to convey.

The spread of haiku to the West is credited to a Dane named Hendrik Doeff, who lived in Japan for many years and became enamored with Eastern poetry. When he returned to his homeland in the 19th century, he brought his poems with him. A few decades later, haiku began to appear in English.

Today, we celebrate International Haiku Poetry Day to learn about Japanese classics and to try composing our own hokku by following the basic rules!

Interesting Facts

• Masaoka Shiki died at the age of 35, but in that time, he managed to create about 20,000 haiku.
• The 17-syllable structure works well in Japanese; in other languages, haiku may be longer or shorter to capture the same essence.

How to Celebrate

Explore classic haiku examples on this day! You can either translate them yourself from Japanese or find translations. Read poems composed in different languages for comparison. Try composing a haiku yourself!

Spread the word about the holiday on social media. Ask others if they enjoy haiku poetry or prefer more traditional forms of poetry.

When is International Haiku Poetry Day in 2025?

International Haiku Poetry Day is observed on April 17 each year.

Observations